Have You Planned Your Heart Attack

Have You Planned Your Heart Attack

According to the Australian Heart Foundation, 55,000 Australians suffer a heart attack each year. But what if we could be forewarned or prepared for a potential problem with our coronary arteries? What if we were able to put in place preventative measures that may avert a problem?

Written by cardiologist Dr Warrick Bishop, Have You Planned Your Heart Attack (RRP$34.99) provides readers with an easy to understand, research-driven and proactive approach to preventing cardiac disease. Dr Bishop provides an insight into modern coronary risk assessment, and why we need to take a more holistic, preventative approach that utilises the latest technology to deal with risk through investigation and management.

'Taking a picture of the coronary arteries using CT to determine their health isn't new, it just isn't being done routinely" Dr Bishop says. 'Yet, by using these technological advances you can be ahead of the game about your cardiovascular health. Wouldn't you want to know if the single biggest killer in the Western world was lurking inside of you?"

Hobart-based Dr Warrick Bishop is a practising cardiologist with an interest in cardiovascular disease prevention and a special interest in cardiac CT imaging, lipid management and eating guidelines. He graduated from the University of Tasmania, School of Medicine, in 1988, and completed his advanced training in cardiology in Hobart, becoming a fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians in 1997. Warrick has worked predominately in private practice, combined with public sessions. In 2009 he undertook training in CT Cardiac Coronary Angiography, being the first cardiologist in Tasmania with this specialist recognition. Warrick is an accredited examiner for the Royal Australian College of Physicians and is a member of the Clinical Issues Committee of the Australian Heart Foundation, providing input into issues of significance for the management of heart patients.

Have You Planned Your Heart Attack
Dennis Jones
Author: Dr Warrick Bishop
ISBN: 9780646956107
RRP: $34.99
www.haveyouplannedyourheartattack.com.au

 

 

Interview with Dr Warrick Bishop

Question: What inspired you to write Have You Planned Your Heart Attack?

Dr Warrick Bishop: As a preventative cardiologist and an early adopter of cardiac CT technology in Tasmania, I began to realise the benefit the scan can offer for helping to manage individual patient needs. For various reasons alluded to in the book, cardiology specialists have only slowly picked up the testing, not just locally, but also nationally and internationally. I also realised that promoting cardiac CT testing with general practitioners was limited by the lack of support for the testing by the local cardiologists.

None the less, though I believe it is a test that is not for everyone, it may provide very valuable information in particular cases that may make significant difference to management plans. With this being the case, I wanted to give patients the opportunity to be informed and educated about the test, so that they may engage their doctor in a sensible discussion about whether it is right for them or not.

Question: What can we do, today, to help prevent heart disease?

Dr Warrick Bishop: Apart from all the standards, like keep weight down, not smoke, exercise, avoid diabetes, monitor blood pressure and so on which we are all aware of, for some, taking a scan of the heart may provide information that could make a life changing difference. Read the book to understand the pros and cons of cardiac CT testing for you and discuss it with your doctor.


Question: How does the book help those who have heart disease in their family?

Dr Warrick Bishop: The question for someone from a family with "bad hearts" is did I get the family genes or not? Sometimes these individuals may appear fit and well and not register as high risk on standard risk calculators. In this situation, it may sometimes be an important conversation with their local doctor or their cardiologist as to whether they would be suitable for CT scanning of the heart to provide more information. I have discussed this scenario in the book.


Question: What do you hope readers take from Have You Planned Your Heart Attack?

Dr Warrick Bishop: I hope to raise awareness of the importance of prevention in heart disease. "Prevention is better than Cure". Anything we can do to shine a light on this can only be a good thing. The more conversations we have about risk, the more we will think of it and the better for everyone. In some cases, scanning the arteries of the heart with a CT scanner may provide clear individualised information to guide the best care for the patient and reduce their risk of a heart attack in the future.

Have You Planned Your Heart Attack
Dennis Jones
Author: Dr Warrick Bishop
ISBN: 9780646956107
RRP: $34.99

Interview by Brooke Hunter